Package device



Feb. 1, 1966 o. J. POUPITCH PACKAGE DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March20, 1964 His A/ly m T N E V m Oug/jeso Jules Poup/fch BY Feb. 1, 1966 o.POUPITCH PACKAGE DEVICE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 20, 1964 m T N E Vm Oug/jesa Jules Poupi/ch BY Feb. 1, 1966 o. J. POUPITCH 3,232,659

PACKAGE DEVICE Filed March 20, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 A v,IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII/lfi 'I/IIIlII/IIIA muuum! I N VE N TOR. Oug/jesa u/es PoupfichBY I United States Patent Ofiice 3,232,659 Patented Feb. 1, 19663,232,659 PACKAGE DEVICE Ougljesa Jules Poupitch, Itasca, IlL, assignorto Illinois Tool Works, Inc., Chicago, 111., a corporation of DelawareFiled Mar. 20, 1964, Ser. No. 353,369 16 Claims. (Cl. 294-8726) Thepresent invention relates to a container carrier or pack-age device forholding and carrying containers or articles in groups or clusters, andmore particularly relates to a container carrier or package device whichreleasably maintains and secures the containers or articles thereto.

The recent trend in container packaging is to provide a containercarrier which engages only a relatively small area of the articles to beheld and supported. Paper and pasteboard carriers which completelyencase the containers have been relatively difiicult to apply and removefrom the containers, removal of the containers from the carrier beingrequired to provide efiicient refrigeration. One additional disadvantageof the paper and pasteboard carriers is that a manufacturer having arelatively distinct and attractively configured article is not given theopportunity to display his articles to the consuming public.

As a result, carriers have been devised which take the form of variousresilient clips and sheet material shapes, and which are adapted toengage each chime or bead of a plurality of containers for retaining thecontainers together as a unit. These carriers have been quite successfulfrom the commercial standpoint, and have overcome the above mentioneddisadvantages of paper or pasteboard carriers.

With container carriers of the last mentioned type, consideration has tobe given to the gripping strength which is necessary to secure thecontainers to the carrier Without unduly restricting the removal ofcontainers therefrom. It is, of course, important that the containers berigidly assembled together as a group because they are subjected torough treatment during shipping, storage and display of the containers.At the same time, it is necessary that removal of the container from thecarrier be as easy as possible for the ultimate consumer. The presentinvention advantageously provides a desirable balance between thegripping strength and the ability to remove containers from a carrier orpackage device while overcoming the problems inherent in paper orpasteboard containers.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide acontainer carrier or package device for rigidly securing a plurality ofcontainers together as a unit while also facilitating fast and efiicientcontainer disassem-bly.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a containercarrier or package device which facilitates refrigeration and display ofthe container.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide acontainer carrier or package device, which in addition to theaforementioned objects is reusable if desired.

While it is desirable from a consumer standpoint that the containers bequickly disassembled from the carrier or package device, it is alsoimportant to the manufacturer that carriers be designed to accommodatehis demands of high volume manufacture and quick assembly of thecontainers to the carriers.

Therefore, it is a further object of the present invention to provide acarrier which can be economically manufactured in large numbers by massmanufacturing tech niques.

Still another object of the present invention is the provision of acontainer carrier or package device which can also be quickly andeffi-ciently assembled to the car riers with a modicum of ease.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide acontainer carrier which can 'be manufactured from either plastic ormetal or a combination of both as desired.

Other objects and advantages will become more apparent from thefollowing description when read in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the container carrieror package device incorporating the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of the container carrier or package deviceshown in the FIG. 1 embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view, partially in section, of the containercarrier in assembled position with a plurality of containers or thelike;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary front elevational view of a plurality ofcontainers assembled by the carrier device of FIG. 1 as viewed alongline 44 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view, partially in section, of the carrier asassembled to a plurality of containers and taken along line 5-5 of FIG.3;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the carrier deviceshown in FIGS. 1-5 and incorporating a modified form of carrying handle;

FIG. 7 is a bottom plan view showing another embodiment of the containercarrier constructed in accordance with the principles of the presentinvention;

FIG. 8 is .a perspective view of the container carrier of FIG. 7 as itis being mounted on a plurality of containers or the like;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the carrier shown in FIGS. 7-8 inmounted position on a plurality of cont-ainers;

FIG. 10 is a bottom plan view of a further modified form of containercarrier;

FIG. 11 is a front elevational view, partly in section, of the containercarrier shown in FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a sectional view of the container carrier shown in FIGS.10l1, and taken along line 12-12 of FIG. 10;

FIG. 13 is a sectional view of the FIGS. 10-11 container carrier, andtaken along line 13-.13 of FIG. 10;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of still another modified form ofcontainer carrier; and

FIG. 15 is a perspective view showing yet still another modified form ofcontainer carrier within the purview of the lresent invent-ion.

Referring now more specifically to the drawing wherein like parts aredesignated by the same numerals throughout the various figures, apackage 10 incorporating the features of the present invention is shownin FIG. 1. The package is shown as comprising six containers 20 disposedin side-by-side substantially abutting and parallel relationship whichare secured together by the container carrier or package device 30. Thecontainers shown throughout the drawing figures are of the beveragevariety and have an annular shape; however, it is to be understood thatother types of containers and articles having various shapes andconfigurations are equally suited to the present invention. Theillustrated containers 20 have a chime or annular head 22 at each endthereof, the inner and outer surfaces of which are designated by thenumeral-s 24 and 26 respectively. Sidewalls 28 of each container areformed intermediate the oppositely positioned chimes.

' The container carrier 30 of the present invention is illustrated inthe drawings as a two-piece device, a substantially planar body 3-2formed from sheet material, and an elongated pin 38 for associationtherewith. The term sheet material, as employed with respect to thecarrier of FIG. 1, means sheet metal such as spring steel or the like;however, this term is also used to encompass sheet plastic, and it iswithin the purview of this invention to form the carrier of FIG. 1 or ofany of the other embodiments from either sheet metal or plastic.

As best seen in FIGS. 1 and 5, a plurality of curvilinear projections ortabs 34 are struck or deflected from the plane of the sheet materialbody 32 for engagement with the inner surfaces 24 of the containerchimes. The outer free extremities of the tabs 34 have an arcuate shapeto conform to the generally circular shape of the container chimes. Aswill be evident, other forms and shapes of the outer tab surfaces may beemployed as necessitated by the shape of the inner surfaces 24. Thecurvilinear tabs 34 are formed on each side of the sheet material bodyso as to position outer peripheral surfaces thereof in mirror imagerelationship. In this manner, a pair of aligned tabs 34 will engagethe-inner surfaces of the chimes on a pair of oppositely positionedcontainers. The relative space between the arcuate surfaces of tabswhich are in mirror image relationship is such that the inner surfaces24 of the chimes on a pair of oppositely positioned containers will besubstantially simultaneously engaged to force the outer surfaces 26 ofthe container chimes in abutting engagement. Also, pairs of aligned tabsare positioned close to each other in a longitudinal sense to provide acompact array or cluster of containers.

In order to secure the containers 20 together as a unit, an elongatedpin 38 is provided for cooperation with the curvilinear tabs 34. Thiselongated pin or shoulder element is adapted to be received by theU-shaped constraining means 36 which are formed intermediate each of thepairs of aligned curvilinear tabs, and also outwardly of the outermostpair of tabs at each end of the sheet material body 32. Each of theU-shaped constraining means 36 has spaced side walls which convergetoward a closed end bight portion. The distance between the plane of thesheet material body '32 and the bight end portion of the constrainingmeans 36 permits the elongated pin 38 to be received below the chimes ofthe containers. Preferably, this distance is only slightly larger thanthe cross sectional dimension of the elongated pin so that the pin willbe received within the constraining means 36, but maintained inunderlying engagement with the container chimes. It is also possible torestrict the dimension of each U-shaped extension sidewalls tosubstantially that of the elongated pin for accomplishing the sampurpose.

In applying the container carrier '30, the containers 20 are firstpositioned in substantially abutting and parallel relationship. This maybe done either by hand or by the use of a suitable guiding and aligningmechanism. Then, the sheet material body 32 is positioned in closeproximity to the chimes 22 at the top of the containers so that eachpair of aligned curvilinear tabs 34 will engage the inner surfaces 24 ofthe chimes. Due to the complementary configuration of the arcuate tabsurfaces and the inner surfaces of the chimes together with the relativespacing of the arcuate surfaces on aligned pairs of curvilinear tabs 34,the outer surfaces 26 of the chi-mes on oppositely positioned containerswill be forced or positioned in abutting engagement. Once the sheetmaterial body 32 has thus been positioned between oppositely positionedcontainers, the elongated pin 38 will be inserted into the constrainingmeans 36 for securing the containers together as a unit.

As will be evident from an inspection of FIGS. 3-5, the elongated pin 38will not only underlie the chimes 22 of oppositely positionedcontainers, but it will also engage the sidewall surfaces 28, thereof.It will also be noted that while each chime is contacted only by theelongated pin 38 and one of the curvilinear tabs 34 of the carrier, theabutting contact between the container chimes will be sufiicient tosecure oppositely positioned containers together for shipping, storageand the ultimate carrying of the containers. The result of this is thatpairs of aligned tabs 34 will cooperate with the elongated pin means 38to provide a restricted throat for accommodating the chimes ofoppositely positioned containers, and secure the containers together.

T o facilitate the carrying of the containers, holes are punched orformed at opposite ends of the sheet material body 32 for receiving theouter free extremities of handle 44) as shown in FIG. 1. Once the freeextremities of the handle 40 have been inserted within these holes, itis a relatively easy matter to simply bend and fold back these free endsto secure the handle to the carrier '30. The containers can thus easilybe carried in a relatively compact array or cluster.

When it is desired to remove the containers from the carrier, theelongated pin 38 may be Withdrawn from the sheet material body 3 2 bysimply grasping the downturned end of the pin and exerting alongitudinal force along the pin axis. Since there will be no harm tothe carrier after the removal of the elongated pin 38, it is possiblethat the carrier will be used again for carrying another set ofcontainers.

Another type of handle which may be associated with the carrier 30 ofthe present device is designated by the numeral 42 in FIG. 6. Aninspection of this figure will reveal that the pin 38 may have anintegral handle 42 formed as an extension thereof. In such a case, itwill be necessary that the pin portion be subdivided into two elements,one element for insertion at one end of the body 32 land for underlyingone or more pairs of contamer chimes, and a second element for insertionat the other'end of the body 32 and adapted to underlie the remainder ofcontainer chimes. In FIG. 6, this is illustrated by elements 39' and39". lie the chimes on one pair of containers, and element 39" willunderlie the chimes of the remainder, which in this case 18 two pairs ofoppositely positioned containers. Elernents 39 and 39" have beensubdivided in the drawings nto parts of one-third and two-thirdsrespectively for illustrative purposes only, it being understood thatother types of subdivision may be appropriate.

In FIGS. 7-9 of the drawings, another modified form of container carrier30a is shown which is similar to the above described structures asindicated by the application of identical reference numerals with thesuflix a added to corresponding elements. This embodiment differs, inthe first instance, from the one shown in FIGS. 1-6 by the fact that thesheet material body 32a is shown as bemg made of sheet plastic ratherthan sheet metal. The tabs 34a are molded integral with the sheetmaterial body 32a and are provided With upstanding shoulders 35 alongthe inner peripheral surface of the tabs to provide backup strengththerefor. constraining means 36a are located 111' the same manner as theFIGS. 16 embodiment, but additionally include channel guides 37 onopposite sides of the innermost constraining means. Since these guides37 are preferably extended to just short of a point of engagement withthe curvilinear tabs 34a, they will provide a corridor for the elongatedpin means for a substantial portion of the sheet material body length.

The assembly of the carrier 36a to a plurality of oppositely positionedcontainers is shown in FIGS. 8-9. It will be observed that the outerperipheral surfaces of aligned tabs 34a will be in engagement with theinner surfaces 24 of the chimes instead of the outermost arcuatesurfaces at the free extremities of the tabs as shown in the FIGS. 1-6embodiment. This is due to the fact that the curvilinear tabs 34a:extend substantially normal to the plane of the sheet material body 32a.After the carrier body 32w has been positioned on the containers in themanner shown in FIG. 9, the elongated pin element, which may be eitherplastic or metal, will first be inserted into the constraining means 36aat one end of the body 32a, and then between the guide means 37 andremaining constraining means 36a for retaining the containers togetheras a unit.

Element 39' will under- In FIGS. -13, there is shown a furtherembodiment of the present invention which is similar to the abovedescribed structures as indicated by the application of identicalreference numerals with the sufiix b added to the correspondingelements. The only difference between this embodiment and the one justdescribed is in the fact that the ends of the constraining means 361)diverge away from the plane of the sheet material body 32b to providecurved end portions 39 for facilitating the entry of the elongated pinmeans. Also, the relative length of the constraining means 36b and itscurved end portions 39 is just short of an engagement with the tabs 34bto provide a corridor for the elongated pin throughout a substantialportion of the sheet material body. This is best seen in FIGS. 10 and12. While it is only necessary to provide a curved end portion at oneend of the constraining means 36b, it will be apparent that by providingsuch curved end portions 39 at each end of the constraining means, careneed not be taken in determining which end of the constraining meanscontains a curved end portion 39, and thus the elongated pin can beinserted at either end of the carrier body.

In FIG. 14, a still further modified form of the present invention isshown which is similar to the above described structures as indicated bythe application of identical reference numerals with the suflix c" addedto corresponding elements. In this embodiment, the constraining means360 essentially comprises a bifurcated element having a first and secondsection. These sections are positioned opposite from one another so thatthe inner fiat surfaces 44 thereof are in mirror image relationship.Flat surfaces 44 converge toward the sheet material body 320 to define aV-shaped channel for receiving the elongated pin. At the innermost endof these flat surfaces, a passageway 46 is formed which liessubstantially normal to the plane containing the bifurcated elements.The sheet material body 32c is adapted to be mounted upon the containersin the manner previously mentioned, and when this is accomplished, theelongated pin is adapted to be positioned in the V-shaped channel ofeach of the bifurcated elements and then snapped into position withinthe passageway 46. The flexing of the first and second sections for eachbifurcated element is permitted by the fact that the distance betweenthe tapered surfaces 44 in the vicinity of the passageway 46 is lessthan the cross sectional dimension of the elongated pin means. As aresult, the pin will be received and releasably maintained by thebifurcated constraining elements, and can be removed either bywithdrawing the pin along the passageways of each of the bifurcatedelements, or by removing the pin in a direction substantially normal tothe sheet material body.

The carrier shown in FIG. is a further embodiment of the presentinvention which is similar to the other embodiments as indicated by theapplication of identical reference numerals with the sufiix d added tocorresponding elements. In this form, the curvilinear tabs 34d areformed by merely bending them out of the plane of the sheet materialbody 32d into the shape substantially as shown. constraining means 36din this form are reversely bent prongs which are adapted to receive andaccommodate the elongated pin in substantially the same manner as theembodiments shown in FIGS. 1-6, 7-9, and l0-l3.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that the present inventionprovides a simple, yet extremely functional container carrier or packagedevice which releasably secures a plurality of containers together as aunit for shipping, storage and carrying purposes, but which permitsdisassembly of the containers from the carrier in a fast and efficientmanner without harm to the carrier itself. It will be further observedthat the carrier device has been illustrated in a number of novel forms,all of which are suitable for carrying out the objects of the presentinvention in an advantageous manner.

While the preferred embodiments of the present inven tion have beenshown and described herein, it is obvious that many structural detailsmay be changed without departing from the spirit and scope of theappended claims.

I claim:

1. A multiple package device for interconnecting at least a pair ofcontainers or the like having chimes on at least one end thereofcomprising, a sheet material body including first locking means formedfrom said body for engaging inner surfaces of each of the chimes onoppositely positioned containers and retaining complementary outersurfaces of said chimes in abutting engagement, constraining means alsoformed from said sheet material body between said first locking means,and second independent locking means received by said constraining meansand cooperating with said first locking means to provide a restrictedthroat in which the abutting chimes of the containers are positioned andtrapped, said second independent locking means being of sufi'icient sizeto engage sidewall surfaces of said containers adjacent said chimes andcompletely underlie said chimes to prevent inadvertent removal of thecontainers from the package device after its association therewith.

2. A carrier device for interconnecting at least a pair' of containersor the like having chimes on at least one ment relative to said lockingmeans for cooperation there-- with, said independent elongated elementbeing of suifi-- cient size to engage sidewall surfaces of saidcontainers adjacent said chimes and completely underlie the same toretain said containers together as a unit.

3. A carrier device for engaging an end of a plurality of containers orthe like having annular end rims comprising, a sheet material bodyhaving a plurality of pairs of first locking means integral with anddepending from said body each adapted to engage inner surfacesassociated with the annular end rims on a pair of containers,constraining means integrally attached to and projecting from the sheetmaterial body in the same direction as said first locking means, saidconstraining means being intermediate pairs of said first locking means,and a second locking means adapted to be received and retained by saidc'onstraining means for underlying said container annular end rims andcooperating with said first locking means to retain said containerstogether as a unit, the transverse measurement of said second lockingmeans being of sufficient size to engage sidewall surfaces adjacent theannular end rims of said containers and completely underlie said annularend rims to enable said containers to be transported by said carrierdevice when associated therewith.

4. A carrier device for interconnecting at least a pair of containers orthe like having chimes located on at least one end thereof, comprising asheet material body having at least a pair of cooperating curvilinearprojections radiating from one face thereof, each pair of saidcooperating, curvilinear projections having outer surfaces facing eachother in mirror image relationship, said sheet material body adapted tobe positioned in close proximity to the chime end of said containerswhereby the outer surfaces of each pair of cooperating curvilinearproject-ions are adapted to engage inner chime surfaces on a pair ofoppositely positioned containers to present port-ions of the outersurfaces of said chimes in abutting engagement with each other,constraining means integral with and projecting from the same face ofsaid sheet ma terial body as said cooperating curvilinear projections,and independent elongated pin means of suificient size to engagesidewall surfaces of said containers adjacent said chimes and underliesaid chimes in the vicinity of the abutting outer surface portionthereof, said constraining means cooperating with said elongatedpin'means andsaid pair of cooperating curvilinear projections to providea throat for receiving and trapping portions of said chimes so as toretain said containers together as a unit and prevent inadvertentremoval from the carrier device.

5. A carrier device for interconnecting at least a pair of containers orthe like having chimes on at least one end comprising, a substantiallyplanar sheet material body having curvilinear tab means radiating fromone face thereof, each of said curvilinear tab means having an arcuatelyextending surface at its outer free extremity with outer peripheralportions of said oppositely positioned tab means aligned in mirror imagerelationship, said oppositely positioned curvilinear tab meanscooperating with each other to permit the arcuately extending surfacesthereof to engage inner chime surfaces on a pair of containers when saidsheet material body is positioned in close proximity to said containerchimes, the distance between said cooperating arcuately extendingsurfaces when in contact with the inner surfaces of said chimes beingsuch as to position outer surfaces of said chimes in abutting engagementconstraining means formed integral with and projecting from the sameface of said material body as said curvilinear projections, saidconstraining means located on opposite sides of each pair of cooperatingcurvilinear tab means and adapted to receive and releasably maintain anelongated pin means therein, said curvilinear tab means and saidconstraining means in conjunction with said elongated pin meanscooperating to provide a throat for receiving and trapping portions ofsaid chimes to retain said containers together as a unit and preventinadvertent removal from said carrier device, said elongated pin meanshaving a diametr-ical measurement of a size to engage sidewall surfaceportions of said containers adjacent the chimes thereof and completelyunderlie said chimes in the vicinity of the abutting outer surfaceportions thereof. v I v V 6. The carrier device as defined in claimincluding a handle means operatively associated with said sheet materialbody.

7. The carrier device as defined in claim 5 wherein said elongated pinmeans includes a handle means for carrying said containers as a unit. 7

8. The carrier device as defined in claim 5 wherein each pair of alignedtab means is struck from said planar body means on opposite sides of acentral section thereof.

9. The carrier device as defined in claim 5 wherein said constrainingmeans comprises U-shaped extensions having sidewalls and a closed endbight portion.

10. The carrier device as defined in claim 9 wherein said closed endbight portion is spaced from the planar body means by a distance notmaterially greater than the cross sectional dimension of said elongatedpin means whereby to maintain said elongated pin means in engagementwith said container chimes.

11. The carrier device as defined in claim 9 wherein the dimension of atleast a portion of the sidewalls of each U-shaped extension is notmaterially greater than the cross sectional dimension of said elongatedpin means whereby to maintain said elongated pin means in engagementwith said container chimes.

12. The carrier device as defined in claim 9 wherein at least one end ofsaid U-shaped extensions diverges away from said planar body means tofacilitate insertion of the elongated pin means.

13. The carrier device as defined in claim 5 wherein said constrainingmeans comprises a plurality of spaced prongs having reversely bent freeextremities extending substantially to said planar body means foraccommodating said elongated pin means therein.

14. The carrier device as defined in claim 5 wherein arcuate supportingshoulder means are formed integral with each of said tab means andextend along the inner peripheral surface thereof, said arcuatesupporting shoulders being of a height less than said tab means andproviding back-up strength therefor.

15. The carrier device as defined in claim 5 wherein said constrainingmeans includes guide means extending between pairs of said tab meanswhereby to provide a corridor for said elongated pin means throughout asubstantial portion of the length of said planar body means.

16. The carrier device as defined in claim 5 wherein said constrainingmeans comprises a plurality of bifurcated elements each having a firstand second section, said first and second sections having taperedsurfaces arranged in mirror image relationship which converge towardsaid planar body means to define a V-shaped channel, a passageway formedin each bifurcated element at the converging end of said taperedsurfaces and extending substantially normal thereto, said passagewayhaving a dimension not materially greater than said elongated pin meansand adapted to maintain said elongated pin means in contact with saidchimes, the distance between said tapered surfaces in the'vicinity ofsaid channel being less than the dimension of said elongated pin means,and said elongated pin means adapted to be positioned between thetapered surfaces of each bifurcated element first and second section andthereafter snapped into said passageway to maintain the same inunderlying engage ment with said container chimes.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,034,440 3/ 1936Maurel' 2l7-l9 2,320,440 6/1943 Kruea et al. 294-87.26 3,022,888 2/1962Brunsing 206 THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner.

W. T. DlXSON, Assistant Examiner.

5. A CARRIER DEVICE FOR INTERCONNECTING AT LEAST A PAIR OF CONTAINERS ORTHE LIKE HAVING CHIMES ON AT LEAST ONE END COMPRISING, A SUBSTANTIALLYPLANAR SHEET MATERIAL BODY HAVING CURVILINEAR TAB MEANS RADIATING FROMONE FACE THEREOF, EACH OF SAID CURVILINEAR TAB MEANS HAVING AN ARCUATELYEXTENDING SURFACE AT ITS OUTER FREE EXTREMITY WITH OUTER PERIPHERALPORTIONS OF SAID OPPOSITELY POSITIONED TAB MEANS ALIGNED IN MIRROR IMAGERELATIONSHIP, SAID OPPOSITELY POSITIONED CURVILINEAR TAB MEANSCOOPERATING WITH EACH OTHER TO PERMIT THE ARCUATELY EXTENDING SURFACESTHEREOF TO ENGAGE INNER CHIME SURFACES ON A PAIR OF CONTAINERS WHEN SAIDSHEET MATERIAL BODY IS POSITIONED IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO SAID CONTAINERCHIMES, THE DISTANCE BETWEEN SAID COOPERATING ARCUATELY EXTENDINGSURFACES WHEN IN CONTACT WITH THE INNER SURFACES OF SAID CHIMES BEINGSUCH AS TO POSITION OUTER SURFACES OF SAID CHIMES IN ABUTTING ENGAGEMENTCONSTRAINING MEANS FORMED INTEGRAL WITH AND PROJECTING FROM THE SAMEFACE OF SAID MATERIAL BODY AS SAID CURVILINEAR PROJECTIONS, SAIDCONSTRAINING MEANS LOCATED ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF EACH PAIR OF COOPERATINGCURVILINEAR TAB MEANS AND ADAPTED TO RECEIVE AND RELEASABLY MAINTAIN ANELONGATED PIN MEANS THEREIN, SAID CURVILINEAR TAB MEANS AND SAIDCONSTRAINING MEANS IN CONJUNCTION WITH SAID ELONGATED PIN MEANSCOOPERATING TO PROVIDE A THROAT FOR RECEIVING AND TRAPPING PORTIONS OFSAID CHIMES TO RETAIN SAID CONTAINERS TOGETHER AS A UNIT AND PREVENTINADVERTENT REMOVAL FROM SAID CARRIER DEVICE, SAID ELONGATED PIN MEANSHAVING A DIAMETRICAL MEASUREMENT OF A SIZE TO ENGAGE SIDEWALL SURFACEPORTIONS OF SAID CONTAINERS ADJACENT THE CHIMES THEREOF AND COMPLETELYUNDERLIE SAID CHIMES IN THE VICINITY OF THE ABUTTING OUTER SURFACEPORTIONS THEREOF.